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Kosova Daily Report #1600, 98-11-01
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1600
Prishtina, 1 November 1998
CONTENTS
[01] President Rugova Receives Swiss Officials Saturday
[02] Julia Taft Holds Press Conference in Prishtina Sunday
[03] Heavy Serb Police Forces Redeployed along Prishtina-Peja Highway
[04] Serb Forces Exhume Bodies of 9 Killed Albanians in Junik
[05] Serb Forces Fire Into Suhareka Villages Overnight
[06] Local Malisheva LDK Leaders Still Under U^K Arrest
[07] Albanian Returnees Encounter Booby-Traps Planted by Serbs in Rahovec
Villages
[08] Police Beat Up Severely Local Albanian Cleric
[01] President Rugova Receives Swiss Officials Saturday
PRISHTINA, Nov 1 (KIC) - The President of the Republic of Kosova Dr.
Ibrahim Rugova received Saturday evening a delegation of the Federal Swiss
Office for Refugees and the Swis Agency for Development and Cooperation,
headed by Jean-Daniel Gerber, Director of the Federal Office for Refugees.
The delegation was accompanied by Ambassador Paul Wipfli, the Swiss envoy
to Belgrade.
Mr. Jean-Daniel Gerber said his country was prepared to assist Kosova and
its people in these hard times.
On 20 November, Switzerland will organize an international conference on
the Kosova refugees in a bid to sensitize Europe on this issue, the
Director of the Swiss Federal Office for Refugees said.
The Serbian military and police offensive of this year have resulted in
thousands of Albanians killed, hundreds of thousands displaced from their
homes, as well a immense destruction of the settlements and property in
Kosova, President Ibrahim Rugova said.
Withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosova is a precondition for the people of
Kosova to feel secure to return to their homes, he said, emphasizing the
humanitarian catastrophe that has been created by the Serbian aggression
this year.
The people of Kosova have opted in a referendum for independence, President
Rugova said, pressing for an international protectorate as an interim stage
pending a lasting solution.
The Kosova President thanked the Swiss government for its support and
readiness to further help the people of Kosova.
[02] Julia Taft Holds Press Conference in Prishtina Sunday
PRISHTINA, Nov 1 (KIC) - Julia Taft, Assistant Secretary of State for
Population, Refugees and Migration, is visiting Kosova for a second time in
two months.
In a press conference in the American Center in Prishtina, capital of
Kosova, today afternoon, Mrs Taft said she was pleased to see the situation
here in Kosova improving compared to state of affairs in end of August,
when mountains were swelled with Albanians to fearful to go back to their
homes.
The senior U.S. official said that over the past couple of months the
international community had "rallied in a cohesive way to try to bring
peace to Kosova, to try to promote a ceasefire, and to promote a political
process."
At this time, "I am here to look at compliance of the SC Resolution 1199"
related to unfettered access for humanitarian aid, Julia Taft said. She
said she toured Kosova today, meeting with NGOs, representatives of
international organizations, and people affected by the war.
"It is difficult to say that everybody is safe to go home, or willing to go
back home", Julia Taft said in reply to a question.
There is still huge fear amongst the population, she added.
The U.S. Assistant Secretary of State said the messages sent to both Serbs
and U^K (Kosova Liberation Army) side are very clear, that "they really
cannot create a situation where they will set the conflict all over
again".
Asked by a reporter whether one should be satisfied if out of 100 people 20
return to their homes, Mrs Staff said "Absolutely not.
The international community has been concerned about all of the people of
Kosovo." There will a long commitment on the part of international
community to help hundreds of thousands of war- affected people in Kosova,
she said.
[03] Heavy Serb Police Forces Redeployed along Prishtina-Peja Highway
PRISHTINA, Nov 1 (KIC) - Heavy Serbian police forces were redeployed in the
morning today (Sunday) along the main east-west Kosova highway linking
capital Prishtina with the main western town of Peja ('Pec'), Mrs Nekibe
Kelmendi, Secretary-General of the Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) told
the KIC.
Mrs Kelmendi added that Serb forces were equipped with armored vehicles on
the part of the highway from Llazic& village of Malisheva to Peja itself.
The town of Peja has a heavy presence of Serb forces, too.
Meanwhile, local LDK sources in Malisheva reported that the Serb military
and police presence in the area has been preventing Albanian refugees from
actually returning to their homes.
Serb forces were reported opening sporadic fire overnight in the Malisheva
area in central Kosova.
[04] Serb Forces Exhume Bodies of 9 Killed Albanians in Junik
Take them to unknown direction
PRISHTINA, Nov 1 (KIC) - In the past few days, Serbian military and police
forces exhumed the bodies of nine Albanians killed by Serb forces in the
summer and buried in Junik, the LDK Information Commission in Gjakova.
Serbs disentombed the bodies of Bekim Shala (48) from Ferizaj, Bedri Shala
(50) from Drenica, P&rmet Vula (20) from Gjakova, Elton Zherka (21) from
Gjakova, Bajram Rama (70) from Junik, Zejnije Krasniqit (f, 27) from Junik,
as well as the body of a 12-year-old girl and two other children, likewise
residents of Junik, whose names have not been reported.
Eye-witnesses said Serb forces took the unearthed bodies to an unknown
direction.
Serb regime is suspected of either staging politically-motivate bizarre
things - like in the summer months, when they presented unidentified bodies
as Serb bodies - or else simply keen on destroying evidence, local
observers said.
[05] Serb Forces Fire Into Suhareka Villages Overnight
PRISHTINA, Nov 1 (KIC) - From 22:00 hrs on Saturday through early morning
on Sunday, Serb forces positioned at Qaf& e Dul&s (Duhla Gorge) and a
location near Luzhnic& opened automatic and machine- gun fire on the
outlying villages, Hamz& Shala, a local activist at Guncat village of
Suhareka told the KIC today.
Mr. Shala failed to learn anything on possible casualties or the material
damage caused by Serb gunfire.
[06] Local Malisheva LDK Leaders Still Under U^K Arrest
PRISHTINA, Nov 1 (KIC) - The Ushtria ^lirimtare e Kosov&s (U^K, the Kosova
Liberation Army) is still holding under arrest two leading members of the
LDK chapter in Malisheva, Jakup Kastrati and Cen Desku, local party sources
said.
The two local LDK leaders were arrested on Friday. The U^K has failed to
say what the motive for their arrest was.
[07] Albanian Returnees Encounter Booby-Traps Planted by Serbs in Rahovec
Villages
PRISHTINA, Nov 1 (KIC) - A number of Albanian families who attempted to
return to their homes in Opterush& village of Rahovec failed to do so
because of booby traps planted there by Serb forces, the LDK chapter in
Malisheva said.
Among those who encountered booby traps were Blerim Kabashi and Agim
Kabashi, residents of Opterusha. They could not actually get back to their
homes.
Serbian police forces are still stationed in the village of Opterusha,
local sources said.
[08] Police Beat Up Severely Local Albanian Cleric
PRISHTINA, Nov 1 (KIC) - A dozen Serb policeman on an armored vehicle
arrived early in the village of Gllogjan of Lugu i Baranit (Barani valley)
early afternoon today (Sunday). They opened fire in the direction of the
nearby Jabllanic& village, a local LDK activist said.
While returning, Serb police beat up severely Ali Hoxha, around 60 years of
age, a village imam. He suffered heavy injuries.
"We dare not open our school" in Gllogjan, the LDK activist said, adding
that "Albanians are fearful of the Serb police presence in the area".
Kosova Information Center
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